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Makueni County Marks Safer Internet Day

On the 7th February 2023, the county government through the Department of ICT, Education and Internship hosted this years’ Safer Internet day in Makueni. The two day celebration was held in collaboration with Eveminet Communication Solutions Limited, an organization that is a Safer partner with Meta, TikTok and Google in Sub Saharan Africa and operating in the Education and Technology (Ed-Tech) Industry. The theme for this year was ‘Together For a Better Internet’.
The celebrations looked at a series of Online Safety roundtable engagements aimed at showcasing Innovative and Strategic advancements towards protecting children on the online space together with creating awareness and building capacities to all the players within the ecosystem of the child.
Stakeholders from key sectors around the children ecosystem were present with representation from KESSHA, Makueni Students Association, CIC and CTTI officers, students from Wote PWD centre, Ukia,Wote, Kathonzweni CICs and participation of Makueni boys and Ukia girls high schools.

MAKUENI COUNTY MARKED THIS YEAR’S WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY

Makueni County Marked this year’s World Environment Day with a commitment to accelerated land restoration and drought resilience through re-engineering agricultural practices, community driven afforestation programs, protection of key water towers, building sand dams, surface runoff water harvesting and investment in solar energy to reduce pressure on wood fuel.

County Executive Committee Member for Lands, Urban Planning & Development, Environment and Climate Change Nicholas Nzioka who led the celebration at Thange said Makueni is working with other partners to build a sustainable environment for all.

Makueni County links tech systems with KEMSA to ensure health supplies efficiency.

Makueni County Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr has kicked off efforts to streamline the procurement of health commodities to boost healthcare delivery in the county.
 
The streamlining efforts will involve integrating and enhancing information technology (IT) based systems to power the procurement and distribution of health commodities. 
 
Speaking when he paid a courtesy call to Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) Chief Executive Officer Ms. Terry Ramadhani, Kilonzo Jnr said the county has undertaken to seal all loopholes facilitating loss of health commodities.
 
Based on an immediate needs assessment, the county, he said, has placed a Kshs 30 million order for essential medical supplies with KEMSA. The order comprises Oncology, Renal, surgical and related items, including Laboratory, Radiology, Dental and Linen items.
 
While imploring KEMSA leadership to provide the necessary support, the county, he added, will maintain a prudent just-in-time procurement plan for health supplies to avoid overstocking and stockout scenarios.
 
“In Makueni County, we have committed to providing the best healthcare possible. This cannot be possible if we continue to lose medicines ordered from KEMSA or cannot account for the supplies delivered,” he said. He added, “We have immediate plans to fully integrate our technology systems to provide end-to-end visibility and enhance our procurement planning and budget cycles.”
 
On her part, KEMSA CEO Ms Ramadhani welcomed Makueni County’s commitment to adopt technology systems and confirmed that the Authority is now banking on IT systems in its operations. The county, she said, will be seamlessly linked to the KEMSA Logistics Management Information System (LMIS) and the KEMSA Electronic Proof of Deliveries (e-POD App).
 
She said that by integrating systems, KEMSA and Makueni County would enjoy end-to-end visibility of the pharmaceutical inventories across the health commodities value chain.
 
“The focus by Makueni County to ensure a system-wide assurance of all deliveries from KEMSA is a welcome development. Such systems alignments will allow KEMSA and Makueni county to enjoy mutual integrity assurances and curb losses or financial inefficiencies including overstocking or delayed procurement,” she said. Adding that, “These systems will facilitate better operating information visibility across the supply chain system and contribute to inventory accuracy at the operating levels.” 
 
In the current order placed by Makueni, 240 rural health facilities, and 13 hospitals spread across the county’s six sub-Counties, will receive their supplies next week to boost primary and secondary healthcare goals.

MAKUENI COUNTY, LIGHT FOR THE WORLD PARTNER TO EMPOWER YOUTH WITH SKILLS AND START-UP SUPPORT

The County Government of Makueni has partnered with Light for the World Kenya to equip youth with both soft and technical skills in a transformative training initiative.

The programme has already made a huge impact in Kibwezi West, where 18 out of 25 trainees successfully transitioned into entrepreneurship after completing a six-month training course.

The young entrepreneurs also received start-up grants to help launch and grow their businesses.

Building on this success, the County on Tuesday flagged off another cohort of 40 youth living with disabilities from Wote Municipality.

The training, launched by Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, will see 20 participants begin immediately in the first phase, with sessions running through to December.

As part of the county’s broader inclusivity agenda, Mulili affirmed plans to allocate market spaces for persons with disabilities, enabling them to establish and operate their businesses sustainably.

MAKUENI COUNTY LEADS IN CHILD WELL-BEING WITH BOLD POLICIES, INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS & SMART INVESTMENTS

Makueni County has demonstrated a strong commitment to the rights and welfare of children through comprehensive policies, programs, and investments.

County First Lady Anita Mutula in her speech during the national celebrations for the Day of the African Child held at Unoa grounds, Wote, in Makueni, said the County has employed a holistic approach to child protection, education, health, and social well-being, aligning with the broader goals of the Day of the African Child.

Key achievements towards protecting rights of children highlighted by the County First Lady include:

1. Establishment of an office to oversee children’s affairs and act as an ombudsman for child rights.

2. Allocation of annual budgets specifically for children’s programs in social protection, education, and health.

3. Development of the Makueni County Children Policy (2021), a framework to safeguard child rights and welfare.

4. Establishment of the Makueni County Child Rescue Center to support child victims of violence, street children, and other vulnerable minors.

5. Provision of dignity packs to needy girls and boys in vulnerable households.

6. Improving access to health commodities and treatment for women and children.

7. Establishment of GBV Recovery Centre with Child Section to assist child survivors of gender-based violence.

8. Construction and equipment of Early Childhood Development and Education centers to enhance early learning.

9. Employed ECDE teachers on permanent terms to improve education quality.

10. Provision of mobility assistive devices to enhance communication and support inclusion.

The national event was graced by Kenya’s First Lady, Rachael Ruto among other high ranking national and county government personalities.

MAKUENI COUNTY LAUNCHES LEGAL CLINIC ON LAND SUCCESSION.

The Office of the County Attorney on Wednesday rolled out a legal clinic in Kathonzweni Ward to educate residents on land succession laws and provide free legal assistance.

The initiative aims at clarifying the law of succession, including procedures for inheritance when a person dies intestate and the legal steps required to transfer property to rightful beneficiaries.

The exercise in Kathinzweni was led by County Solicitor, Jennifer Kyumwa.

The legal clinics will offer vulnerable citizens free legal support on land and succession matters.

Speaking during the exercise, area MCA Hon. Kennedy Maneno noted that the exercise provided residents with vital information on the legal documents necessary for inheritance and land ownership.

This initiative, funded through the Ward Development Fund, will extend to other six wards: Emali/Mulala, Wote/Nziu, Kitise/Kithuki, Kasikeu, Tulimani, and Kithungo/Kitundu.

By addressing land succession challenges, the initiative aligns with Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr.’s vision of empowering communities with legal knowledge and ensuring the fair distribution of property among rightful heirs.

MAKUENI COUNTY LAUNCHES INTEGRATED HEALTH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

Makueni County has unveiled a digital health management information system which replaces the outdated manual and inefficient processes.

Dubbed #AfyaMakueni, the system will interconnect all healthcare facilities in the county, ensuring a seamless flow of information to enhance patient care, streamline operations, and boost overall efficiency.

Once fully implemented, the centralized system will eliminate the need for patients to register multiple times across different facilities. For instance, a patient registered in Mtito Andei will not need to register again at Makueni County Referral Hospital (MCRH) or any other facility.

The system will provide comprehensive data of patient histories, including previous treatments, medications, and allergies, aiding in better diagnosis and treatment plans.

Additionally, the system will facilitate inter-facility borrowing of healthcare commodities, further enhancing resource utilization and service delivery across the county.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr who launched the system at the Makueni Referral Hospital described #AfyaMakueni as a ground-breaking innovation aimed at revolutionizing healthcare management and delivery in the county. He underscored the system’s usefulness in enhancing accountability in the use of pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical services provided by county facilities.

MAKUENI COUNTY KICKS OFF PREPARATION OF ANNUAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR 2025/26 FINANCIAL YEAR

The County Treasury has commenced preparations for the third Annual Development Plan (ADP) to implement the County Integrated Development Plan 2023-2027 (CIDP III).

The department is working closely with 8 sectors representing various county departments and agencies to establish strategic priorities for the 2025/26 financial year.

The ADP serves as the framework to guide resource allocation to priority projects and programs.

Socio-Economic Planning Chief Officer Boniface Mutua said that this ADP will provide an opportunity for the government to stimulate economic growth at the grassroots through the integration of various sectors.

Mutua spoke on Thursday when he officially opened the Sector Working Groups session in Wote.

The process also involves reviewing achievements, challenges encountered, and lessons learned from the previous plan

Before submission to the county assembly for approval by September 1, 2024, the document will undergo stakeholder engagement and public participation.

MAKUENI COUNTY KICKS OFF 2024 MUSIC AND CULTURAL FESTIVAL.

Makueni County Music and Cultural Festival 2024 has officially been launched today at GreenPark Wote. The event highlights the county’s commitment to promoting cultural and musical development.

With 166 entries from various wards, the festival showcases a wide range of local talents including music and dance, elocution, and theatre and film.

The festival themed, “Utamaduni Wetu ni Nguzo ya Utajiri Wetu”, was opened by Trade, Marketing, Industry, Culture and Tourism CECM Dr. Sonia Nzilani. Nzilani stated that, “the county government is dedicated to safeguarding our cultural heritage and advancing the arts as a pathway to economic prosperity.”

Top performers from todays event will advance to the 97th Kenya Music and Cultural Festival set for December 1-10, 2024, in Taita Taveta.

The CECM was accompanied by Chief Officer, Dr. Jossylyn Nzilani and Culture Director Mutua Mulonzya.

MAKUENI COUNTY JOINS FORCES WITH NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF KENYA AND NATURAL PRODUCT INDUSTRY TO DRIVE CULTURAL INNOVATION

A dynamic collaboration between the Trade and Culture directorate, the National Museums of Kenya, and the Natural Product Industry recently unfolded during a three-day workshop at the Kilimani Breeze Hotel. The workshop’s central aim was to validate the Indigenous Knowledge (IK) Innovation Bank (InKiBank) while strategically identifying and prioritizing IK assets within Makueni County for cultural product development and eventual commercialization.

The workshop served as a melting pot of ideas, drawing together an eclectic mix of stakeholders. This included Makueni County’s energetic young culture champions, the esteemed Akamba Clans Governing Council of Elders, and key representatives from the County Assembly committees on Culture and Finance. Notably, various county departments, such as Finance, Trade, Tourism, and the County Attorney, played active roles, demonstrating a holistic approach to both cultural and economic advancement.

With robust participation from diverse sectors, the workshop emerged as a center for innovative thinking and strategic planning. Its overarching goal is to tap into the wealth of indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage embedded within Makueni County. By prioritizing IK assets, the initiative aims to unlock fresh opportunities for cultural product development and sustainable commercialization, promising both economic growth and the preservation of the region’s rich cultural identity.